Devil’s Music

"Audio MR standby! Director of camera one, please capture the whole scene from behind the audience, and ENG directors, head to the stage!"

Producer Seokjin lowered Chae-eun's mic from the control box, increased the musician and audition volumes, and shouted. This was Kay's first live performance of her regular album.

Given that broadcasting rights had already been sold in 63 countries, Seokjin's tension was at its peak.

The plan was hastily made, focusing only on the profit from selling the broadcasting rights rather than advertising beforehand, which might have aimed for higher viewer ratings. Although a 3% rating is remarkable for cable TV, the board members were initially disappointed. However, the fact that Kay's stage was broadcast worldwide for the first time alleviated their regrets.

Seokjin, staring intensely at the screen, turned his head towards a loudly opening door with an annoyed expression.

"What the! Who enters the PD control box during a live broadcast? Get out!"

It was a junior PD who had entered, and although he usually would have apologized and left immediately, this time was different. Sweaty from running, he shouted.

"Senior! The, the ratings!! The ratings!!"

Ratings—a highly sensitive issue for broadcast staff—caught Seokjin's immediate attention.

The junior PD showed the data connected through the company network on his phone screen.

"Tw... twelve percent!! It's gone up to twelve percent, senior!"

Seokjin jumped up in shock.

"What... what? Say that again, now!"

As the junior PD was about to hand over his phone again, he rechecked the screen.

"It, it went up another percent! Thirteen percent now!!"

Double-digit ratings were rare even for regular broadcasters, something usually only seen in popular variety shows or dramas. Disbelieving, Seokjin snatched the phone to see for himself, his face spellbound.

"Is... is this for real?"

"Upstairs is going crazy! We didn't even advertise beforehand; how is this even possible? It's only been 13 minutes since the live broadcast started, and it's rumored that Kay has appeared, which shouldn't be possible!"

"So, what... how did this happen? Young-seok, what's going on?"

Young-seok, who had been watching and smirking, tossed his phone to Seokjin.

"What's... what's this?"

On the screen was a social media feed. Seeing Seokjin inspecting it, Young-seok chuckled and explained.

"Director Lin said she'd gift us not just the broadcasting rights but the ratings too. Initially, we thought how could we guarantee ratings without prior advertising, aiming just to secure 5% by mid-broadcast would be a great success, but it turns out she had prepared meticulously."

Seokjin, eyes wide, stared at the SNS page.

"Is this... Fantagio's SNS page?"

"Yeah, right after Kay appeared, Fantagio posted that our broadcast was airing live."

"Really? But, even so, could that have had such an immediate effect?"

Young-seok looked incredulously at Seokjin.

"Hey, do you even know how many followers Fantagio's SNS page has?"

"How many?"

"Don't you remember? The Leopard's tour concert. It was a guerrilla tour conducted through the SNS page. Since then, Fantagio has consistently posted updates about Kay, growing their followers. Right now, Fantagio's page has over 2.3 billion followers."

"What!!! Seriously? 2.3 billion?"

"Yeah, that's the power of Fantagio's SNS page."

"Such... such..."

Not only Seokjin but also the junior PD who brought the news were shocked. The junior PD, mouth agape, looked at his own phone, then sat down hard on the floor.

"Sen... senior... it's passed twenty percent... the ratings."

"Gosh..."

Unaware of the commotion backstage, Ji-hyun shouted over the radio.

"Chick, PD! What are you doing? We need the cue sign!"

Seokjin, his legs giving out, half-crawled to press the radio button in the control box.

"Cu... Cue!"

On the darkened stage, only two arched doors lit up. One figure, who had been posing behind the curtain, smoothly opened the curtain and stepped out.

Chae-eun, wearing a black rider jacket, a tank top underneath, and Adidas skinny training pants, had a red cloth covering her eyes and held a microphone in one hand.

The audience gasped, seeing the red cloth covering her eyes as they had in the teaser.

"Wow!! Is she really going to dance blindfolded like that in a live performance?"

"Will she be okay? What if she falls?"

"Hey, they're idols from Korea. They've been eating and dancing all their lives; there's no way they can't handle it

. Let's just watch!"

Contrary to the audience's expectation that she would start dancing immediately, heavy bass and piano sounds filled the stage, accompanied by Yoon-jung's husky alto voice.

Before the wind blew, I never knew.

How beautiful the world I live in could be.

A slight connection made with someone.

A love that calls me like a breeze.

Yoon-jung's husky voice, unheard during her idol days, amazed the people. She had been part of a girl group that followed a girl crush concept and specialized in girls' hip-hop, so many had never truly heard her voice.

As Yoon-jung finished her song, Jin-yeon emerged from the next door, her appearance a twin to Yoon-jung's, also with a red cloth covering her eyes, holding a microphone.

With a refreshing wind,

Watching over you, feeling thrilled.

Laughing over trivial fights.

All these ordinary moments.

Jin-yeon's voice, clear and delicate, differed starkly from Yoon-jung's, surprising the onlookers who exclaimed,

"Wait, were these girls always this good at singing? Why didn't they do this while active in Korea?"

"In Korea, companies prefer performers who are good at dancing and put on a show, so they wouldn't let them sing."

"No way, it's only been a few months since they went to Kay, how could they change this much? I've heard their group's songs a lot, I never imagined they had such voices!"

"That's why Kay is amazing, to transform them this much in such a short time, truly incredible."

As Jin-yeon's song ended, the music stopped, leaving only their figures illuminated. The entire stage lighting then blacked out for a few seconds before all lights came on and psychedelic lights activated.

Simultaneously, an explosive shuffle rhythm burst forth, and the two, now at the center stage, began to dance in unison.

Their vigorous choreography seemed impossible for those supposedly blindfolded, but as their movements transitioned into a dance that looked different from afar yet similar up close, the audience raised their hands and roared in excitement.

Though only about sixteen bars had passed, the catchy hook kept coming, and Yoon-jung and Jin-yeon's impressive dance moves had the audience unwittingly mimicking their hand movements.

The easy hand gestures, contrasting with their vigorous leg steps, quickly caught on with the crowd, who raised their hands above their heads to follow along.

As their intense dance seemed to continue endlessly, the music's BPM climbed until it felt like it could burst hearts, then stopped abruptly, freezing the two dancers on stage.

In the sudden silence that enveloped the stage, Geon's figure became visible, but the overwhelming stillness kept the audience breathless as they watched him walk forward.

Geon stood behind the motionless Yoon-jung and Jin-yeon, then pulled on the string of the red cloth covering their eyes, unveiling them.

As if they were puppets, the two didn't blink, their eyes unfocused and waiting, until Geon raised his hand high and then forcefully brought it down.

At that moment, explosive music played again, and Yoon-jung and Jin-yeon resumed dancing in the same synchronized movements.

Hundreds in the audience simultaneously raised their hands and repeated the hand movements of Yoon-jung and Jin-yeon, causing the audience section to ripple with motion.

Camera directors, sweating from the excitement, filmed the joyous audience mimicking the choreography, then quickly switched the feed to Geon as he took the microphone.

Unlike his usual voice, Geon sang in a clear high pitch, reminiscent of 90s dance singers without the vocal tricks.

A darkness so thick you can't step forward.

Into that long waiting.

Like a cool breeze, you came.

On days without a single breeze.

On days when cool breezes blow.

On our happiest day.

Like a happy breeze, I will come to you.

To you, I will come.

Geon's voice, resonant with beautiful lyrics, combined with Yoon-jung and Jin-yeon's powerful dance, painted the stage, as the flickering pace of the psychedelic lights sped up, and pre-installed confetti cannons exploded, transforming the stage into a grand finale scene of an award show.

Excited, one by one, the audience members stood and danced, soon joined by others, all enjoying the stage.

Since it wasn't a music ranking show but a gathering for real music lovers, it was possible, aided by the addictive quality of the song of the wind.

Again, when Yoon-jung took the microphone, Jin-yeon also grabbed hers simultaneously. Yoon-jung's husky mid-low tones and Jin-yeon's clear high notes burst into harmony.

Before the wind stopped, I didn't know.

How lonely a world without you would be.

In this place where lights turn on and off.

A stage called '

you' that will never be again.

Their beautiful voices and intense dance set the background for the dancing audience, who were now sweating, climbing up seats, or holding hands and jumping from their spots.

Not joining the dance, Geon ran up the backstage stairs, reaching high notes.

Like the crying wind.

Once, I wished to be happy like the wind.

I, who made you cry.

Even if you live forgetting me.

As the wind, I'll find you again.

When this wind calls me again.

Don't forget, I'll find you.

As Geon's tremendous high notes filled the air, the studio almost seemed to collapse under the massive cheer from the audience.

Running up to the top of the backstage stairs, Geon grabbed the railing, threw his head back, and roared.

On our happiest day.

Like a happy breeze, I will come to you.

To you, I will come.

>

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